Regulate, regulate, regulate! Knee-jerk!

WHY is it that politicians still think -- despite all the evidence of the last 100 years -- that regulations on economic activity can benefit and enrich the ordinary citizen? The truth is there for all to see: the more regulations there are, the less chance there is of anyone risking money to make more ( and therefore employ more people who will, in turn, pay more taxes). The fewer the regulations; the fewer the bureaucrats needed to enforce them; the greater the chance of an entrepreneur willing to take the risk of setting up a new business, building a new factory etc etc. Quite the best example of the dead hand of regulation is our very own National Energy Regulator (Nersa). Does Nersa produce energy? No, it does not. Are Nersa members experienced, trained people from the energy industry? Not many, is the answer. Who pays Nersa employees and covers the cost of this establishment? Why the energy industry itself in the form of an enforced levy or tax. What a wonderful scam! Result? The dead hand of bureaucracy rests heavily on the South African energy scene. Take the hand off and see what will happen. People will risk. People will invest. Some will fail, but the best will succeed -- an in doing so benefit everyone.